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With Manchester City facing a humiliating exit from the Uefa Cup qualifying rounds should they not overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit away to FC Midtjylland this afternoon, the prospect of signing a “superstar” must have been the farthest thing from Mark Hughes's mind as he boarded a flight to the Danish backwater of Herning yesterday.

Part of the bold vision for City outlined by Garry Cook, the executive chairman, last week was the revelation that the club are working hard to secure in the longer term the capture of another high-profile player after the failed pursuit of Ronaldinho, who moved from Barcelona to AC Milan.

Hughes, the City manager, is adamant he will not have players forced upon him and that he will sign only those he wants. Ronaldo, the Brazil striker released by Milan, has been linked with City, but with doubts persisting about the 31-year-old's fitness and attitude, Hughes appeared to distance himself from such a move.

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“The club is looking to make its mark in a wider area and signing a big-name player would possibly help that, and would help me if they are of the right standard,” Hughes said. “But it won't help the team if you just buy lads at the back end of their career just looking for a final pay-day. They won't get anywhere near my team if they are not capable of helping it.

“I am mindful of where the club wants to go and I have been kept fully informed of that, but if I feel a player can't make an impact on the team, it doesn't matter who he is, he won't be coming.”

Hughes has been boosted by the return of Jô from the Olympics, with the Brazil striker in line to make his debut today, while Micah Richards, the defender, has been passed fit to play despite being knocked unconscious during the 3-0 win over West Ham United on Sunday. “We need to win the game and it's obvious there has got to be an improvement from the first leg,” Hughes said. “It has been a bit difficult because with the forwards we have got we have lacked obvious stature up front, but now Jô is back and he should cause problems in the air.”

Aston Villa should ease into the first round after their 4-1 win in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie against FH Hafnarfjördur in Reykjavik two weeks ago. Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, will field a young team against the Icelandic side, but is keen to avoid complacency.

“We are in a commanding position and don't want to throw it away,” O'Neill said. “We want to be in the competition proper and that's what we've worked so hard for. Some of the players who haven't been in the side for a while could do with a competitive game. We need to get some players on the pitch and in a competitive mode.”